Weft detecting mechanism



June 21, 1932. o. v. PAYNE I WEF'I" DETECTING MECHANISM 3 Shets-Sheet Filed Dgc. 9. 1950 June 21, 1932. Q v PAYNE 1,863,872

WEFT DETECTING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 9, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 050% 1/ Ef/Ve June 21, 1932. o. v. PAYNE WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM Filed 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 |m||||||l||||mlllmmlmmumm 0507/ K/77 A/E f977ZF/VE/5 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OSCAR V. PAYNE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS wnr'r nnrnc'rme uncrranrsm,

This invention relates to mechanism for detecting the substantial exhaustion of weft in a running shuttle. In the operationof automatic looms in which very fine or delicfcate filling is used, repeated blows of the detector on the filling sometimes weakens the filling or otherwise injures the same.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved actuating mechanism for a weft detector by which the contact of the detector with the weft or filling is more gradually effected.

To the accomplishment of this object, I preferably mount the Weft detector on the lay and cause the detector to move rearward on the lay toward the weft carrier at a slow relative speed as the lay approaches front center.

I have also provided novel mechanism for withdrawing the detector upon transfer of a weft carrier.

My invention further relates to arrange.

ments and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of parts of a loom embodying my invention, the lay being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 33 in Fig. 1 and with certain parts omitted; v

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of certain parts, taken substantially along the line 44 in Fig. 2, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views illustrating the operative connections of the weft detector.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown portions of a loom frame 10 on which is mounted a weft carrier magazine M of any usual type. A transferrer 11 is pivoted at 12 on the magazine M and is provided with a depending arm 13 to which the usual latch 14 is pivoted. Upon indication of transfer,

a link 15 is moved upward and swings the latch 14 into position for engagement by a ways in a stand 23 secured to the front sideof the lay 18. The slide 22 has 3 depending front end portion 24. A forwardly projecting portion 25 of the detector 20 moves normally alongside an upwardly projecting arm 27 (Fig. 5), mounted on a fixed pivot 28 and provided with a weight W which normally holds thearm 27 against a stopv pin 29.

A chopper lever 30 is pivoted at 31 at the lower end of a rod or link 32 and is given a regular rocking movement by an actuator 33 pivoted at an intermediate point 34 on the lever 30. Under normal conditions, the lever 30 swings freely about its' piv ot 31 and no indication of transfer is given.

IVhen'the weft on the bobbin B is substantially exhausted, the detector 20 slides to the right in Fig. 3 and the forwardly projecting arm 25 moves to the left as indicated in Fig. 6, pushing the arm 27 into the path of movement of the free endof the chopper lever 30. The lever thereafter swings about its point of engagementv with the arm 27 and the link 32 is moved downward, thus initiating the release of a fresh bobbin and the replenishmentof the substantially exhausted shuttle.

The depending portion 24 of the detector slide 22 engages an upwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever 40, pivoted at-41 onan arm 42 which is preferably formed integral with the detectorstand 23. r

' A cam roll 43 is mounted on a rearwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever 40 and engages a cam'surface 44 formed on the upper edge of a bracket 45, fixed to a front portion of the loom frame 10. 'As the lay moves rearward, the roll 43 engages a rising portion of the cam 44' and the detector slide 22 and detector 20 are thus moved forward out of the shuttle box 45 and against the pressure of a spring 46in the detector casing.

As the lay moves forward, the roll 43 follows a descending cam surface and permits the detector 20 to move relatively rearward under the influence of the spring 46 and to thus enter the shuttle S to detect the presence or absence of weft on the bobbin B. By suitably designing the cam surface 44,

the movement of the detector 20 into the shuttle S may be made as gradual and easy as may I be desired.

moves forward, a second member movably mounted in the loom, and means effective to cause said second member to withdraw said detector during weft carrier transfer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af-. fixed my signature. a

1 OSCAR V. PAYNE.

After'the detector engages the weft on the bobbin, the detector 20 and slide 22 move insert a fresh weft carrier B, the link 52 moves upward, raising the cam plate 50. The cam roll 43 overlies the cam plate as well as the cam surface 4:4: and is movedupward by the raising of the cam plate 50, thus promptly withdrawing the detector 20 from the shuttle S as the transferrer descends.

I have thus provided simple and effective mechanism for permitting a detector to move into a shuttle at any desired relative speed and also for Withdrawing the detector upon transfer. I am'thus able to operate weft detecting mechanism with any kind of weft'or filling, no matter how fine or delicate it may l-Iaving thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forthin the claims, but-what I claim is 1. In a loom having a lay and a shuttle box, in combination, a weft detector mounted on said lay, a withdrawing lever mounted on V said lay for said detector, a fixed cam engaging and operating said lever, and a second cam movable with respect to said first cam upon weft carrier transfer and effective to render said withdrawing lever operative at front center;

2. The combination in aloom as set forth in claim 1,-in which the loom has a transferrer and in whichthe movable cam is directly connected to the transferrer and is moved in predetermined relation thereto. V

3. In a loom having a lay and a shuttle box, in combination, a weft detector mounted on said 'lay,ia spring to move said detector 7 toward the shuttle box, means to withdraw said detector, an unyielding member fixedin position in the loom and normally effective to actuate said Withdrawing means as the lay 

